Artificial-fuel machine



I. SCHAUB.

ARTIFICIAL FUEL MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 28. 1919.

1,340,463. Patented May 18, 1920.

5 SHEETSSHEET I.

' %ATTORNEY I J. SCHAUB.

ARTIFICIAL EUEL MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 28, 1919.

' Patented May 18, 1920,

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' III II '4 jg 1 I L 1%? 12 I I az I" "I fill Ii F I INVENZDfRLub J. SCHAUB.

ARTIFICIAL FUEL MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 2811919.

Patented May 18, 1920.

5 SHEETS Man T 'ATTORNEY J. SCHAUB.

ARTIFICIAL FUEL MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 28, 1919.

1 340,463, I I Patented May 18, 1920.

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fiend L%% 6 BY $4 ATTORNEY I. SCHAUB,

ARTIFICIAL FUEL MACHINF.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 28. m9

Patented May 18, 1920.

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I a? IIIIIII Ax www IN ENTOR Jkcad yehallb BY W 7 ATTQRNEY UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JACOB SCI-IAUB, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO THE THEROZ COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

, ARTIFICIAL-FUEL MACHINE.

portion containing an inflammable sub-.

stance, such as alcohol. Such an artificial fuel is set forth in Letters Patent to me No. 1,262,267 issued Apr. 9, 1918.

In accordance with my improvements I provide means to thoroughly commingle a colloid with alcohol and provide tubules or passages therein within which an inflammable substance, such as alcohol, is placed, and means to confine separated portions of said substance, which may be called globules thereof, within the colloid mass, whereby such globules will be retained separately within the mass in condition suitable for burning.

In my Letters Patent for artificial fuel machine granted September 2, 1919, No. 1,314,984, I have disclosed a machine adapted to produce the artificial fuel disclosed in the aforesaid Letters Patent No. 1,262,267, and my present improvements may be said to relate to the class of machine aforesaid, capable, however, not only of producing the specific form of artificial fuel disclosed in said Letters Patent No. 1,262,267, but of also producing globules of an inflammable substance within the fuel mass aforesaid.

My invention comprises novel details of improvement and combinations of parts that will be more fully hereinafter set forth and then pointed out in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof wherein Figure 1 is a front view of a machine embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a side view thereof;

Fig. 3 is a detail of one of the pumps;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged vertical section of means for intimately mixing the colloid and alcohol;

Fig. 5 is a section on the line 55 in Fig. 4;

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 18, 1920.

Application filed May 28, 1919. Serial No. 300,364.

Fig. 6 is a section on the line 66 in Fig. 4;

Figs. 7, 8 and 9 are detail views of parts shown in Fig. 4;

Fig. 10 is a plan View of a distributing member for the colloid shown in Fig. 4;

Fig. 11 is a side view partly in section on the line 1111 in Fig. 10;

Fig. 12 is anenlarged plan view of means to incorporate the burning substance within the tubules of the colloid mass;

Fig. 13 is a vertical section of Fig. 12;

Fig. 14 is a side view'of Fig. 12;

Fig. 15 is a sectional view on the line 1515 of Fig. 14, parts being omitted;

Fig. 16 is an enlarged detail of one of'the tubes;

Fig. 17 is an enlarged vertical section of parts shown in Figs. 12 to 16, together with means to inclose the burning substance in globular form within the colloid mass;

Fig. 18 is a section on the line 1818 in Fig. 17;

Fig. 19 is asection on the'line 1919 in Fig. 17;

Fig. 20 is a detail plan View of nozzle 74;

Fig. 21 is an edge view of rotary cutter 67;

Fig. 22 is a side view of member 75.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several views.

A suitable frame or support is indicated at 1 adapted to sustain the various parts of the machine, and a feed pipe indicated at 2 is adapted to be connected with a tankor other suitable source of supply (not shown) from which a colloid of desired composition may be fed. A suitable valve is indicated at 8 to control the flow of colloid. Air pressure may be maintained in said tank to force the colloid through pipe 2. Said pipe 2 communicates through fitting 4 with a pump 5 which. may be of any suitable construction, shown in Fig. 3 as a gear pump. From said pump a pipe 6 communicates with a branch 7 of a head or casing 8 for delivery of the colloid to means for mixing it with alcohol, such as ethyl alcohol. The shaft 5 of pump 5 may be provided with a gear 9 to mesh with worm 10 on a drive shaft 11 operated by a belt 12 on pulley 13 driven from any suitable source of power, whereby colloid may be continually fed to head 8. Said head is shown comprised in two members 8, 8 providing a chamber 14 (Fig. 4) to receive the colloid which members may be secured together by screw threads. A conduit mem ber is shown fitted to member 8 by screw threads and provided with a central passage 15 and with lateral passages 15 provided between upstanding lugs 15 on member 15 and communicating with chamber 1% on opposite sides of passage 15, whereby the colloidfrom chamber 1 1 will be distributed into passage 15 from different sides. \Vithin passage 15 is a feed worm 16 (Figs. 4: and 7) carried by a shaft 17 whose upper portion is provided with bore 1'7 to receive and distribute alcohol. The upper portion of shaft 17 is rotative in a bearing 18 having a gland 18 shown confined within head 8 by means of a cap 19 shown secured to said head by screw threads suitable packing making tight joints where required. A T-coupling 20 (Fig. 1) is shown secured by nipple 21 and union nut 22 with cap 19 (Fig. 4:). A pipe 23 is adapted to supply ethyl alcohol through parts 20, 21 to bore 17 of shaft 17, and l have shown a pump 5 for said alcohol, which may be similar to pump 5 communicatingwith pipe 23 and having its drive shaft connected to drive gear 9. The alcohol may be supplied from filter 24 through pipe 25 having a valve 26 to control the flow to pipe Air pressure may be maintained on the alcohol flowing from a supply tank to the filter 24: if desired.

The colloidL from passage 15" is fed through conduit 27, which is a continuation of conduit 15, (Figs. 1, e and G), that is shown connected by a nut 2T with conduit 15, which conduit has a series of inwardly extending projections 28 shown projecting from a wall into the bore of said conduit. I have shown series of circularly disposed projections 23 spaced apart in said conduit; and shaft 1'? is provided with correspondingly disposed angularly arranged fins or projections 29 operable rotatively between the several se ies of projections 28 (Figs. 4; and 8). For convenience of manufacture the fins or projections 29 are adapted to be formed upon sleeve 30 secured to shaft 17 (Figs. d, 8, 9). lhe projections 28 may be in the form of pins driven into holes in conduit 27 after sleeve 30 with shaft 17 is assembled in said conduit. The said lins or projections 29 are shown disposed in such angular position respecting the axis of shaft 17 as to force the colloid within conduit 27 downwardly and against pins or projections 28. Shaft 17 is provided with laterally disposed holes 17' communicating with corresponding holes 30 in sleeve 30 for delivering alcohol from here 17 into conduit 27. Shaft 17 is shown journaled at its lower portion in bearing 31 in conduit 27, a gland 32 affording a tight joint to prevent the escape of colloid and alcohol mixture,

which shaft is shown provided with a pulley Head 8 is attached to frame 1 by bracket 31; and conduit 27 is shown attached to said frame by bracket 35 (Fig. 2). Pulley 33 receives belt 36 shown passing over idle pulleys 37 carried by frame 1 and driven by pulley 38 on shaft 17. lVhen colloid is admitted to chamber 1a and alcohol is admitted to shaft 17 said shaft will be rotated whereupon the colloid will be forced through conduit 2'7 and the alcohol will pass through holes 17 30, into said conduit, wherein the colloid and alcohol will be intimately commingled by'the rotation of the projections 29, which serve to carry the mixture around and force it into contact with projections 28. T he mass so formed will be forced from conduit 27 through the passage 39 which may be controlled by a suitable valve 10.

The aforesaid mixture of colloid and alcohol passes from passage 39 to chamber 41 through inlet 41-2 communicating with passage 39. For convenience chamber ll is shown comprised in detachable members d3, 1 1, shown secured together by screw threads (Fig. 17). At 45 is a tubular member shown having inlet opening to and annular passage d7 with which a plurality of channels l8 communicate and open through the bottom of said member into an annular passage 48, (Figs. 1'?- and 18). Member is shown provided with longitudinal bore 4-5 containing bushings 19, one of which bushings iits within passage l? to close it interiorly. A shaft 50 is rotative within said bushings and is shown provided with a pulley 51 1) receiving a belt 52 shown passing over idler pulley carried by frame 1 anddriven by pulley 55lsecured on shaft 11. Ii die member is provided with a number of parallel spaced minute tubes 56 (Fig. 13), which member is secured to the lower portion of member 141, as by screw threads, so that the upper portion of tubes to are in the lower portion of chamber 41 (Fig. 1?). The upper end of the guide member fits within a. recess at the lower end of member 45, a suitable apertured packing 15 making tight fit, the parts 45, being secured tightly to members 413, 4-1. The tubes are shown secured to and depend from a disk or plate 57 that is formed with or secured to a ring 58, said plate being shown provided with a con .l hole receiving the upper threaded portion of the bushing 59, a nut 60 upon said threaded portion securing said bushing to said plate. The tubes 56 may be placed in spaced holes in plate 57 and secured in position by means of solder 61 upon said plate. Guide member 55 is provided with a number of openings atits upper portion communicating 'ith a corresponding openings 58 in ring 58. Ring 58 rests upon lugs 55 extending inwardly between the o5" and 58 are located within the lower portion of chamber 41, whereby the colloid mass previously referred to in fluid state may flow into the spaces between tubes 56 and thence through said spaces below. As the colloid mixture passes through said spaces between tubes 56, tubules are formed in the mixture by said tubes, and alcohol is introduced through the tubes from the annular chamber 48 into said tubules.

Commercial ethyl alcohol containing a desired proportion of water is conducted to inlet 46 from a pipe 62 shown provided with a suitable valve 63 and leading to a fitting 64 connected by nipple '65 with inlet 46. Pipe 62 communicates with a supply of ethyl alcohol, shown connected to a filter 66 on which alcohol air pressure may be main tained, (Fig. 1), in a supply tank.

The colloid containing alcohol, constitut ing an artificial fuel, may be run into suitable containers for use, or may be cut into cubes and the ends of the tubules in the cubes may be closed to retain the alcohol therein in any desired manner, such as set forth in my aforesaid Letters Patent No. 1,262,267 or in my aforesaid application, Serial No. 188,034. In accordance with my present improvements I provide means operative continuously within the flowing colloid containing alcohol in its tubules serving to isolate the alcohol in globular form in the mass, such as by closing the tubules in relatively short sections, so that when the mass stifi'ens toa substantially jelly-like consistency the alcohol contentv of the tubular portions of the mass will be retained in numerous cells. For such purpose I provide a rotary cutter 67 (Figs. 17, 20 and 21) shown having an upper portion substantially in the shape of a frustum of a cone at 67 and provided with spaced laterally disposed blades 68, which cutter is shown attached to a spindle 69 adapted to be passed through the bore 59 in bushing 59, (Fig. 13), to enter a socket or recess in the lower end of shaft 50, (Fig. 17) said spindle being shown provided with slot 70 at its upper end to engage a pin 71 extending across the corresponding bore in the end of shaft 50 whereby the cutter will be rotated with said shaft. A nut 69 retains cutter 67 and spindle 69 together. The upper portion of cutter 67 bears against the lower end of tube 59, and said cutter is inclosed within a ring-like member 72, shown secured by screwthreads to the lower end of die member 55, providing an annular channel 7 3 for passage of the fuel mixture. Below the ring-like member 72 is a discharge noz-.

zle 74 shown in hollow tapering form containing a cone-like guide or filling member 75 providing a correspondingly shaped passage way 7 6' for the outflow of the mixture (Fig. 17). The guide 75 is provided with spaced lateral projections 77 that are shownin curved form extending from the upper portion thereof just below the blades 68. The projections 77 are shown in crescent-like shape, the convex faces being at one side providing spaces therebetween for the flow of the material. The artificial fuel flowing from the nozzle 7 4 may be delivered into cans or receptacles 78 for burning therein, or may be delivered and cut into cubes or pieces in any suitable manner as before set forth.

In order to clean the interior of the various parts described from the residue colloid or artificial fuel at any time when the machine is stopped, I have illustrated a filter 79 to contain methyl alcohol, which may be maintained under air pressure in a supply tank, which filter is shown connected by a pipe 80 with fitting 4 and controlled by valve 81 (Fig. 1) pipe 82 connects filter 7 9 through valve 83 with coupling 20, and pipe 84 through valve 85 connects said filter with fitting 64. The passing of the methyl alcohol through the various parts where the residue of the colloid is to be cleaned out is requisite because the colloid will readily harden if allowed to remain within the machine; At 86 are pipes shown connected with the pump bearings and with grease cups 87 for lubricating the bearings of shaft 5'. A; gage 88 is shown connected by pipe 89 with coupling 20 whereby to indicate the pressure of the alcohol being fed to the colloid in conduit 27. v

The operation may be described as follows A colloid of suitable composition, say comprising cellulose pentanitrate and ethyl alcohol, such as referred to in my aforesaid Letters Patent No. 1,262,267, is fed continuously by means of pump 5 into conduit 27, and ethyl alcohol in suitable proportion controlled by the operation of pump 5 is simultaneously fed to said conduit through holes 17 of shaft 17. During the rotation of said shaft said ethyl alcohol is thoroughly commingled with said colloid, the opera tion of the projections 29 within such mass of material causing the required agitation thereof to effect the desired commingling of the ethyl alcohol with the colloid to produce the desired viscosity. Such colloid mixed with ethyl alcohol thence passes from conduit 27 into member 45 where the mixture flows around the minute tubes 56, while at the same time the ethyl alcohol (such as commercial ethyl alcohol containing a desired proportion of water) flows through channels 48 into the tubes 56 and thence enters the tubules formed by said tubes in the flowing colloid. As said colloid containing alcohol in its tubules flows into the channel 7 3 it is encountered by the rapidly rotating blades 68 which cut through the mass and close the tubules in short lengths, whereby the alcohol therein is confined, in lobular form, the artificial fuel thus formed being forced through the spaces between the projections 77 and re-commingled in and forced through the nozzle 74 to the receptacle or the like before referred to. After the artificial fuel passes from the projections 77 it will commence to solidify and finally will assumea jelly-like consistency, adapted to be burned. The character of the fuel is such that it is rich in heat units, will burn witnout fusing, etc. The operation of producing the artificial fuel is continuous in the machine since the main requirements are to keep the tanks supplied with requisite materials and maintain the operation of the pumps and other moving parts of the machine while the materials flow and are assembled and commingled in the manner set forth.

lily invention is not limited to the particular details of construction set forth and may be varied within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of my invention. While I have re ferred to my machine as adapted to form a mixture of a colloid and alcohol for the production of artificial fuel, it will be understood that the machine is not limited to use for such materials, as other suitable materials to be mixed and combined together during their fie may be passed through the machine. duce the fuel set forth in my Letters Patent No. 1,262,268, issued April 9, 1918.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. The combination of means to mix a colloid and alcohol together, means to incorporate an inflammable substance within such mixture, and means to separate and confine said substance in globular form within said mixture.

2. The combination of means to mix a colloid and alcohol together, means to incorporate an inflammable substance within such mixture, and blades operative within the mixture while it flows to separate said substance and confine it in globular form within the mixture, 1

3. "he combination of means to mix a col oid and alcohol together, means to incorporate an inflammable substance within such mixture, blades rotative within the flowing mixture to separate said substance and confine it in globular form within the mixture, and a nozzle beyond the blades for the outflow of the mixture.

4. The combination of means to feed a colloid, means to feed alcohol, means to mix the colloid and alcohol together, means in the path of the flowing mixture to produce tubules therein, means to feed an inflam- The machine is adapted to pro-' mable substance into the tubules of said mixture, means operative within the flowing mixture to separate and dfvide said substance into globular form within the mixture, and a nozzle for the discharge of said mixture containing said substance in globular form.

5. The combination ofmeans to feed a colloid, means to feed alcohol, means to mix the colloid and alcohol together, means in the path of the flowing mixture to produce tubules therein, means to feed an inflammable substance into the tubules of said mixture, blades rotative within the flowing mixture to sever said substance and confine it in globular form within the flowing mixture, and a nozzle for discharging said mixture containing said substance in globiilar form.

6. The combination of means to supply a colloid, a series of relatively small tubes means to force the colloid through said tubes to provide tubules in the colloid, means to charge an inflammable substance within said tubules, spaced rotary cutters adjacent to the delivery ends of said tubes, means to rotate said cutters within the flowing mixture to divide said substance within the mixture into-globular form.

7. The combination of means to supply a colloid, a series of relatively small tubes, means to force the colloid through said tubes to provide tubules in the colloid, means to charge an inflammable substance within said tubules, spaced rotary cutters adjacent to the delivery ends of said tubes, means to rotate saidcutters within the flowing mixture to divide said substance within the mixture into globular form, and a nozzle containing spaces beyond said cutters for the outflow of material.

8. The combination of means to supply a colloid, a series of relatively small tubes, means to force the colloid through said tubes to provide tubules in the colloid, means to charge an inflammable substance within said tubules, spaced rotary cutters adjacent to the delivery ends of said tubes, means to rotate said cutters within the flowing mixture to divide said substance within the mixture into globular form, a nozzle extending beyond said cutters, a guide within the nozzle, and projections be'- tween the guide and nozzle providing means therebetween adjacent to said cutters for the flow of the mixture.

9. The combination of means to supply a colloid, aseries of relatively small spaced tubes, means to conduct the colloid to and force it through the spaces between said tubes, means to force an inflammable substance through the tubes into tubules formed in the colloid, rotative blades beyond the delivery ends of said tubes, means to rotate said blades. Within the flowing mixture.

. 10. The combinationof means to supply acolloid, a series of relatively small spaced tubes, means to conduct the colloid to and force it through the spaces between said tube, means to force an inflammable substance through the tubes into tubules formed in the colloid, rotative blades beyond the delivery ends of said tubes, means to rotate; said blades within the flowing mixture, a shaft carrying said blades journaled within said tubes, and means to rotate said shaft.

11. The combination of means to supply and propel a colloid, a series of spaced relatively small tubes, means to conduct said colloid into the spaces between said tubes, means to supply an inflammable substance through said tubes into said colloid, a tubular hearing within said tubes, a shaft rotative within said bearing, a rotary cutter carried by said shaft beyond the delivery ends of said tubes and provided with spaced blades to operate the flowing mixture, and means to rotate said shaft.

12. The combination of means to supply and propel a colloid, a series of spaced relatively small tubes, means to conduct said colloid into the spaces between said tubes, means to supply an inflammable substance through said tubes into said colloid, a tubular bearing within said tubes, a shaft rotative within said bearing, a rotary cutter carried by said shaft beyond the delivery ends of said tubes and provided with spaced blades to operate the flowing mixture, means to rotate said shaft, and a nozzle extending beyond said blades and provided with projections having spaces therebetween for the flow of mixture beyond said blades.

18. The combination of a pump, means to supply a colloid thereto, a conduit in communication with the pump, a tubular shaft within the conduit provided with holes, a pump communicating with said shaft to deliver alcohol to said holes, means to rotate said shaft to cause commingling of the alcohol with the colloid within said conduit, means to provide tubules within the mixture, and means to incorporate an inflammable substance within said tubules.

14:. The combination of a pump, means to supply a colloid thereto, a conduit in communioation with the pump, a tubular shaft within the conduit provided with holes, a pump communicating with said shaft to deliver alcohol to said holes, means to rotate said shaft to cause commingling of the alcohol with the colloid within said conduit, means to provide tubules within the mixture, means to incorporate an inflammable day of May, 1919.

JACOB SC-HAUB. 

